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The Science Of Canine Play

Hosted by Petminded
 
 
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Are you curious about how your dog plays?

Play behavior is an important means by which dogs explore their environment and strengthen their motor, social, and cognitive skills. But not all dogs play the same way! Some dogs like to take toys to a quiet corner to chew to bits, while others would rather play fetch with their people.

This means that scientists and pet parents alike can gain insights into the inner workings of dogs’ minds by simply watching them play.

Join us to learn about:

  • Do different breeds of dogs tend to have different styles of play?

  • How does temperament correspond to play behavior?

  • Does skilled training change how dogs investigate toys? What about stressful life events like having previously been housed in an animal shelter?

  • What determines whether or not dogs seek human help to solve puzzle toys?

Our speaker is Sophie Barton, a founding member of the Canine Brains Project, a multi-institutional research program that investigates how differences in dogs’ brains relate to differences in their behaviors. She received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Georgia and is now a PhD student in the Hecht Lab of Harvard University.

Sophie studies how evolutionary pressures shape the anatomy and behavioral output of the brain. She is currently running a citizen science project called Paw Games that aims to determine how breed, temperament, cognition, and life history influence how dogs play with objects and solve puzzles.

Much of her research is inspired by her rescue dog Tamsin, who helps her pilot her studies.